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"Success comes to the underdog who doesn't let sleeping dogs lie...
Dayton's First Fashion Design School Launching Soon
A New Chapter in Fashion Education Is Unfolding in Dayton
The future of fashion doesn’t start on the runway, it begins in the classroom, the studio, and the community. As part of our continued mission to build a resilient and equitable fashion infrastructure in Southwest Ohio, (DE-FI) Global INC is laying the groundwork for the region’s first fashion design school rooted in ethics, innovation, and community transformation.
Why Dayton? Why Now?
Dayton has long been a cradle of ingenuity and reinvention. From aviation to innovation, the city has a rich legacy of shaping industries. But when it comes to fashion education and garment manufacturing, access has been fragmented, gate-kept, and underdeveloped, until now.
We are in the active planning phase to launch a fashion design school that meets the industry where it’s going, not where it’s been. This initiative will focus on cultivating local talent, creating career pipelines, supporting underserved communities, and connecting fashion education directly to economic development and job creation in our region.
What We're Building
This new school will serve as the cornerstone of a larger, interdisciplinary hub that includes:
- A rigorous, studio-based curriculum focused on both technical skills and creative development
- Integration of sustainable practices through our Farm to Fashion Initiative
- Cross-disciplinary tracks connected to our STEM Atelier, combining material science, engineering, and wearable technology
- Industry-informed instruction led by experienced professionals and creatives from across the country
- Built-in career support, mentorship, and access to micro-manufacturing and professional resources through our existing infrastructure
This is not a cookie-cutter model. It’s designed for today’s emerging designer, technician, and entrepreneur.
Sustainability is at the heart of our educational vision, inspired in part by feedback that we received from Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, who emphasized the critical need for fashion institutions to prioritize ethical production, environmental responsibility, and social impact.
How You Can Support
We are actively seeking founding partners, board members, staff collaborators, and fiscal champions who share our vision of building a fashion education pipeline that is equitable, industry-responsive, and community-rooted. Your support will help us:
- Renovate and expand physical space for classrooms, studios, and labs
- Equip facilities with industry-standard tools and technology
- Provide scholarships and tuition assistance for underserved students
- Recruit and retain qualified faculty and operational staff
- Design a scalable, replicable model for regional growth
Join Us in Shaping What’s Next
This is your opportunity to be a part of something transformative, something that will shape not only the future of Dayton, but the fashion industry itself. We invite funders, foundations, educational partners, local government, and industry leaders to help bring this vision to life.
Let’s reimagine what fashion education can be. Let’s build it together, from the ground up, right here in Dayton. Additional details coming soon.
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Website Update in Progress!!
We’re currently refreshing and updating our website including important forms and features to better serve you! Some areas may be temporarily unavailable as we work behind the scenes. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Our goal is to have everything updated and ready by Saturday, July 5th.In the meantime, be on the lookout for invitations and RSVP links for Dayton Fashion Week. Emails will come from:info@defiglobalinc.com with a sender name: (DE-FI) Global INC. Make sure to check your inbox and spam folders deadlines are approaching!